Isofix, Cabriofix, Isofit & Isosafe (Car Seats Explained)

If you have kids, you know that the conventional seats that come with your car are not the most ideal for transporting children.

What are the types of car seats for children?

There are so many car seat products designed to ensure the safety and comfort of children in transit. Most people will often choose from the popular Isofix, Cabriofix, Isofit, and Isosafe car seats, which have been known to be reliable.

It helps to know the features, pros, cons, and differences of these car seats.

That way, it becomes easier to choose the appropriate seat for your most precious cargo.

What Is the Difference Between Cabriofix and Isofix?

The primary difference between the Cabriofix and ISOfix is the installation process.

ISOfix:

ISOfix (International Standards Organization fix) is the international standard that regulates attachment points for child safety seats in passenger vehicles.

The ISOfix car seat system is designed to fit into ISOfix points in your car.

These are slots that attach a car seat directly to anchor points on the vehicle’s chassis.

The biggest advantage of ISOfix systems is that they reduce the chances of wrongly fitting child car seats. They are also more rigid since the system connects directly to anchor points in the vehicle.

ISOfix car seats are also easier to install, however, not all cars come with ISOfix points.

We have made a list of 21 great electric cars with 3 isofix spots.

Cabriofix:

The Cabriofix car seat system allows you to install a child safety car seat with the 3-point seat belt system that comes standard with most passenger cars.

Additionally, the Cabriofix comes with an ISOfix base that offers a more secure and rigid connection to the car seat.

Unlike ISOfix-only car seats, the Cabriofix offers more flexibility, especially if your car doesn’t come with ISOfix points.

Cabriofix car seats also tend to be lighter and more affordable.

Maxi-Cosi, the popular European child car seat maker, makes the Cabriofix. The company created the Cabriofix car seat as an affordable alternative to its ISOfix-only products.

The Cabriofix offers click-and-go installation, a comfortable padded seat, a smooth rocking function, and side-impact protection.

This product also has a one-pull strap adjustment, a comfortable carry handle, and fits easily into most ISOfix bases.

A Cabriofix is essentially a more versatile ISOfix car seat system. It is a secure and more affordable choice for families on a budget.

What Is the Difference Between ISOfix and Non-ISOfix Car Seats?

The difference between ISOfix and Non-ISOfix car seats is the method of installation.

ISOfix car seats have a base that key into slots between the car seat and the backrest.

This simple installation allows the car seat to connect firmly with the vehicle’s chassis, reducing the risk of injuries during an accident.

A non-ISOfix car seat attaches to the vehicle’s seat belt system. Depending on the design, the installation can be via a three-point or two-point system.

Studies show that both ISOfix and non-ISO-fix child car seats offer almost the same level of protection when used correctly.

However, the ISOfix system has an enormous advantage over seat belt attachment mechanisms.

Safety and Installation:

Industry data suggests that about 80 percent of parents wrongly install car seats when using a vehicle seat belt system.

The design of an ISOfit attachment slot reduces errors while installing your child’s car seat, significantly making rides safer for them.

Plus, ISOfix seats are easy to install; you can hardly miss them if you follow the user’s manual.

ISOfix seats offer no extraordinary advantage except that they reduce the margin of error. But when you are carrying precious cargo such as a child, you need all the protection you can get.

The ISOfix has proven to be more reliable than seat belt systems.

What Is the Difference Between ISOfix and i-Size?

You already know about the ISOfix car seat attachment system, which belongs to the R44/04.

The i-Size is a new European car seat standard introduced in 2013 as part of the UN regulation ECE R129 convention.

The reason for the adoption of i-Size car seats is to ensure all cars can use the same child safety seats. Currently, not all ISOfix seats will fit into your car, even if you have ISOfix anchor points and connectors.

In the coming years, I-Size will be the industry standard. It will allow carmakers and child safety seat manufacturers to have a uniform design that will fit into any vehicle type or make.

Besides the universal uniformity, the i-Size seats are supposed to provide; these products also offer better protection. Unlike regular ISOfix seats, I-Size seats are required to pass frontal, rear, and side-impact tests.

Additionally, I-Size seats can only be installed with ISO-fix connectors.

I-Size seats also require babies to be rear-facing until 15 months, which reduces the risk of dangerous outcomes in the event of a frontal collision.

Also, i-Size seats are classified based on the height of the child, while the current R44/04 classification is based on the child’s weight.

As the older R44/04 regulation car seats are phased out, many cars will become I-Size compliant. Until then, people will continue to use the R44/04 and R129 regulation seats side by side.

What Is the Difference Between ISOfix and ISOsafe?

ISOfix is a standard that regulates child car seat attachment.

It specifies how to install a car seat using specific connectors and either a top tether or a load leg.

The ISOSAFE is a mechanism for keeping a car seat stable and in place. It is not a convention for installing car seats; ISOSAFE helps improve the performance of ISOfix and enhances the comfort of the baby in transit.

While the ISOfix means using connectors, ISOSAFE requires the use of the vehicle seat belt.

That is why ISOSAFE systems are common with booster seats, which often need the occupant to be strapped in with a diagonal seat belt.

What Is the Difference Between ISOfix and Easyfix?

The EasyFix is a car seat base made by Maxi-Cosi for its Cabriofix seats. It provides ISOfix and vehicle seat belt connectivity, allowing you to anchor the base via ISOfix connectors or your car’s seat belt.

The Easyfix base provides exceptional safety and comfort and comes with a color indicator to show when you’ve secured it safely. This base offers easy click-and-go installation for the Cabriofix car seat and may be used with other compatible products.

The Easyfix is designed to be seat belted permanently in the car. Whenever you need to travel with your child, all you need to do is to click the Cabriofix car seat into the base and remove it easily after the trip.

What’s the Difference Between the ISOfix and Familyfix?

The only difference between the two is that the ISOfix is the regulating standard for car seat attachments while the Familyfix is a car seat base. Also designed by Maxi-Cosi, the Familyfix is compatible with the Pebble, Pearl, and Cabriofix car seats, all of which are made by Maxi-Cosi.

Unlike the Easyfix, which can only fit the Cabriofix and offers both ISOfix and seat belt connections, the Familyfix requires ISOfix anchor points. This means your car needs to have ISOfix connectors and anchorage if you intend to buy a Familyfix car seat base.

The Familyfix car seat base can accommodate a child that weighs up to 18kg, which makes it ideal for long term use. It also offers the click-and-go installation and comes with a load leg for additional stability.

What Is the Difference Between ISOfix and LATCH?

ISOfix and LATCH are two systems for the rigid installation of child safety car seats. The ISOfix is a European standard while the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) is found in American and Canadian vehicles.

The ISOfix system includes slots incorporated into the car seat frame. A LATCH system features a webbing strap attached to a car seat or a detachable base with hooks on either end. However, there are rigid LATCH seats too, which work much like a seatbelt but connect to lower anchors in a vehicle.

Both the ISOfix and the LATCH car-seat systems do not offer any significant advantage over a correctly used vehicle seat belt. But they are easier and faster to install and help reduce errors that can lead to serious injuries and fatalities during accidents.

Final Words

Whether you are using ISOfix car seats, Familyflex car seat bases, or LATCH systems, the point of using all these products is to safeguard your child.

Even if you know how to use your vehicle’s seat belt correctly, you never know when a costly mistake can occur.

While ISOfix car seats are not mandatory, these systems can help reduce the risk of errors to the barest minimum, thus keeping your kids safe on trips.

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